Governor of the Bank of Japan (BoJ). Mr Ueda has said that Japan's "underlying inflation [is] steadily approaching 2%", pointing to record corporate profits, mounting labour shortages, back-to-back years of bumper wage rises and fast-rising inflation expectations. He has raised rates only gingerly, but has signalled that the BoJ's policy of negative real (inflation-adjusted) interest rates is nearing its end. The BoJ's nominal rate stands at 0.75%.
His monetary tightening has put the central bank on a collision course with Takaichi Sanae's government, which favours fiscal expansion. Ms Takaichi has called rate hikes "stupid". Her mentor, Abe Shinzo, ended a similar conflict in 2013 by forcing the BoJ into submission.
Worst Month of the Year: February. February has only 28 days in it, which means that if you rent an apartment, you are paying for three full days you don't get. Try to avoid Februarys whenever possible.